Skyrim Patch 1.9 Removes Level Cap, Adds Legendary Difficulty

Bethesda announced details on Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's next major patch today. Update 1.9 will introduce two new Legendary features to make the game more replayable.

The patch enables players to turn any skills capped at 100 into "Legendary skills." This means that they'll be rolled back to 15 and all perks will be lost. The upside to this is that you can level by re-improving these skills. As Bethesda points out, this change basically removes the game's level cap.

The developers are also adding in a new Legendary difficulty setting. No details were provided by Bethesda. If nothing else, legendary difficulty probably boosts enemy damage and lowers player damage.

Update 1.9 also includes the large number of bug fixes. NPCs and creatures will no longer have spawn issues after fast travel. Furthermore, Alduin won't go invincible during quests anymore. The full list of changes is below.

PC owners can try out the patch's new features right now by downloading the beta. You can opt into the beta by right-clicking Skyrim in your Steam library, selecting Properties, and then editing the Beta tab. Be advised, though, that if you overwrite old saves while you have the beta patch loaded and then opt out of the beta, these saves will no longer work.

Bethesda also plans to release 1.9 on the Xbox 360 and PS3. They expect to do so later this month.

BUG FIXES

General memory and stability improvements

Fixed issue with quest scripts that were not shutting down properly

Companions will equip better weapons and armor if given to them

Fixed rare issue where player is unable to learn the Clear Skies shout during “The Throat of the World”

Fixed rare instance where Alduin would become invincible during “Alduin’s Bane”

Fixed a rare issue where player could become stuck in Night Mother’s coffin during “Death Incarnate”

Fixed rare issue where protected companions could be killed from poison damage